Signs point to defensive end for Titans

Texas defensive end/linebacker Sergio Kindle is visiting the Titans today, making him the fourth defensive end to make a pre-draft stop at Baptist Sports Park.

Already the team has met with South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul, Texas Christian’s Jerry Hughes and Louisiana Lafayette’s Hall Davis. I’m sure the Titans will visit with several more leading up to the NFL Draft on April 22-24.

These visits don’t give everything away, of course. Teams are allowed to have 30 (local players don’t count against the total). They use them to get better medical information and a better feeling on players. Other times they use the visits to help eliminate a player from consideration.

But I still think the Titans are going defensive end with the 16th overall pick.

The three biggest needs heading into the offseason were defensive end, linebacker and cornerback. Let’s take a closer look:

Cornerback: In the last month the Titans added two veteran cornerbacks in Rod Hood and Tye Hill. Cornerbacks Ryan Mouton and Jason McCourty, both draft picks last season, will also be back. If there’s not a starter opposite Cortland Finnegan in that foursome, the Titans are doing something wrong in their evaluations.

I can’t see Florida’s Joe Haden (regarded as the draft’s top cornerback) being available at 16, which would leave Boise State’s Kyle Wilson, Florida State’s Patrick Robinson, Oklahoma State’s Perrish Cox and Rutgers’ Devin McCourty in the next tier. If the Titans trade back and acquire a second-round pick, then maybe they could pull the trigger on a Wilson or Robinson.

Linebacker: Will Witherspoon has been added to the mix. Yes, there are still questions at the position, but the Titans already have rising star Gerald McRath under contract along with veteran David Thornton, although his high salary (more than $4.3 million in 2010) and recovery from shoulder surgery have placed some doubts on his return.

I expect the Titans to get middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch under contract one way or the other. I won’t be surprised to see Keith Bulluck come back with a one-year deal. Bulluck still has some recovering to do and I can’t see another team paying him the big money he’s looking for. And while the Titans love Alabama’s Rolando McClain – who doesn’t? – I don’t think he’ll be around at 16 either.

Which brings us back to defensive end.

Signing Jason Babin has been the Titans’ lone move at the position so far. He’s been a role player. And while I think defensive line coach Jim Washburn will get the best out of Babin, the Titans need a big-time, impact player to join with William Hayes, Jacob Ford and Dave Ball.

So right now, the question isn’t where the Titans will use their first pick. In my mind the question is: Which defensive end will they pick?